Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 119: The Capital Of The Empire (3).

Allen gave the members free time. After all, coming to the capital was more of an outing than an official business trip… Honestly, being in the capital and not sightseeing would be a huge loss.

Thus, Itty Titty Swordsman Natasha headed to meet Sword Emperor Magnus at his hideout.

The Sword Emperor was like an idol to all swordsmen. Naturally, meeting him was one of the swordsmen’s aspirations. Of course, Natasha was no exception to this.

…Meeting Group Leader Magnus…!

Of course, there were some parts that were a bit worrying. Although Ordnung’s master had recommended meeting him once, honestly, it felt a bit awkward to just show up unannounced based on that suggestion alone.

She thought it wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed, so she bought a gift basket of flowers. How much it would mean to the Group Leader, she didn’t know.

She arrived at the Magnus House with mixed feelings of anticipation and anxiety.

Even Natasha, who didn’t flinch at most things, couldn’t help but feel her heart race standing in front of it. But she couldn’t back down now. Even if she was turned away at the main gate, she had to at least try.

“Who goes there?”

The gatekeeper asked Natasha, who stood at the door holding a flower basket. She was momentarily speechless.

“I… I’m Natasha Gondor Viya from the Allen-Mercenary Group… I was hoping to see Group Leader Magnus.”

“Ah, do you have an appointment?”

“No… If you tell him Yupi sent me, he’ll know…”

Yupi?

The gatekeeper furrowed his brow slightly, wondering what this nonsense was about. There were quite a few people who tried to meet Group Leader Magnus in such a manner, so the gatekeeper had no choice but to be suspicious. So far, the number of people who had entered the hideout without an appointment was minimal. It didn’t seem like the short woman in front of him would be one of them.

“Hmm.”

“…Hurry up and convey this inside.”

The hesitant gatekeeper eventually sent the messenger into the building. He prepared himself to give a piece of his mind if this turned out to be nonsense.

After a while, the messenger hurriedly came out again.

“He said to escort her inside!”

The gatekeeper’s eyes widened, having thought it wouldn’t be the case. Natasha’s anxious face brightened immediately.

“Please, come inside.”

The gatekeeper’s attitude immediately turned respectful. If she could meet the Group Leader without an appointment, she must be someone extraordinary.

Natasha passed through the main gate and followed behind the messenger. Although spacious, it wasn’t particularly luxurious for the hideout of a renowned Sword Emperor. From that, she could indirectly sense the Sword Emperor’s character.

Soon, she arrived in front of the Sword Emperor’s office.

“You may enter.”

With those words, the messenger returned to his position. When she knocked on the door, there was a deep voice telling her to come in.

Ah.

Calming her trembling heart, she carefully grasped and twisted the doorknob.

It was a warm room with brilliant sunlight streaming through high-arched windows. Right there, Sword Emperor Magnus was handling his affairs with a straight posture. Perhaps it was just a feeling, but his appearance seemed as sharp as a honed blade.

“I am Natasha Gondor Viya…!”

Natasha bowed her head politely as she introduced herself. The middle-aged man with wrinkles around his eyes smiled softly and gestured her closer.

“So… Big Sis Yupi sent you?”

…Big Sis?

No matter how much she thought about it, Ordnung’s master did not seem like someone Magnus would call Big Sis. She wondered if there was some misunderstanding.

“Well, Ms. Yupi is still a young person.”

“…Ah, right. Well, she might seem that way to you… It really seems Lady Yupi sent you.”

Magnus smiled kindly. Not like a Sword Emperor, but like the friendly next-door uncle. Then he lightly scanned her whole body. As if assessing his opponent.

At that moment, Natasha gasped softly and lifted the flower basket in her hands up to her chest.

“I don’t know if you’ll like it, but do you like flowers…?”

“Oh, a gift? Thank you. How thoughtful.”

“No, it’s nothing. I couldn’t come empty-handed.”

Natasha gently placed the flower basket on the edge of the desk and stepped back a bit.

He meticulously observed her every move, then slowly stood up, told her to follow him for a moment, grabbed his sword, and walked off somewhere. She trailed a few steps behind him.

They arrived at what looked like a training yard in the backyard.

Ah.

Standing in the middle of the training ground, the Sword Emperor turned back to look at the female swordsman.

“A swordsman should speak with their sword. Don’t you agree?”

“…Yes.”

Then, almost simultaneously, the two drew their swords with a swift sound. He gestured with his chin as if to let her make the first move. Of course, she had no intention of refusing that offer. She only pondered and pondered how to make the most perfect first strike.

While Natasha gripped the hilt with both hands, lowering her stance slightly as she sought an opportunity, Sword Emperor Magnus stood upright, letting his sword hang loosely as if in conversation… However, she couldn’t perceive that as a vulnerability at all.

Yet, she couldn’t just keep waiting for an opportunity forever. In the end, she gathered all her strength, pushed off the ground, and swung her sword with all her might.

Of course, her strike was effortlessly blocked by his sword.

…Good.

With that single blow, the Sword Emperor gauged her level. At the same time, he understood why Big Sis Yupi had sent this young lady to him… It seemed she wanted him to impart her with some lessons.

Natasha swung her sword with all her might, as if pouring out everything within her.

Thus began their repeated exchanges. He unraveled and interpreted the essence of her swordsmanship, piece by piece.

Indeed, she possessed a genius that was rare among her peers… However, he sensed something else beneath that genius.

Enlightenment.

A profound understanding of martial arts, not just the sword, simmered beneath her surface. It just hadn’t been fully realized yet.

Confirming this, the Sword Emperor’s eyes gleamed.

…Perhaps this woman might become the next Sword Emperor to follow in his footsteps in a decade or so.

Indeed, Yupi’s eye for talent was exceptional. To find such a prodigy.

At the same time, Sword Emperor Magnus’s gaze cooled. If that were truly the case, something more than just a simple sparring session might be necessary.

He struck his sword forcefully and pushed her back slightly.

“Brace yourself.”

With a brief warning, the air froze to an intimidating degree. An intense concentration of killing intent. He became a sword himself.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Natasha’s body trembled involuntarily at the murderous aura, like prey before a predator. And then came the relentless attacks.

Each strike that fell was truly formidable. If he had genuinely intended to cut her down, her body would have been split in half with a single blow.

Already, her hands and feet were entangled in a mess. Although she was forcibly blocking, her unnatural actions soon led to excessive physical exhaustion. Naturally, the match was already decided.

However, this sparring was not merely to determine a winner.

“Last.”

In that overwhelming offensive, there was a brief declaration from Magnus.

And his final strike…

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The strike that descended diagonally was, literally, perfect. The very realm that all swordsmen longed for.

She saw it with her own eyes.

Breathing. Posture. Movement.

Everything was flawless.

To what extent of talent and effort would one need to achieve that?

A level of transcendence that was awe-inspiring.

“Did you see?”

Natasha couldn’t escape the overwhelming emotion for a moment.

“…I saw it.”

The Sword Emperor smiled warmly again.

If you saw it, that’s enough.

With that, your qualification is proven.

“…You are now my disciple.”

Sword Emperor Magnus laughed awkwardly.

“I was mistaken. I didn’t know you had someone.”

“…I’m sorry.”

He waved it off, saying there was nothing to apologize for.

“Well then… which mercenary group…?”

“The Allen-Mercenary Group.”

Allen, Mercenary Group…

He rolled the name around on his tongue several times, as if to remember it.

“Of course, just because we belong to different groups, don’t think we are distant. Come find me whenever you need help… You can think of me as your teacher.”

It was such an overwhelming gesture from the Sword Emperor that she didn’t know how to react.

“Such overwhelming kindness…!”

“I am immensely pleased to have a fine junior like you. So, please don’t feel burdened.”

“…Really, thank you.”

Magnus smiled contentedly, thinking that she was indeed a well-mannered young lady.

May there be blessings…

…on the path she takes.